Eight stranded kayakers on Sauk River were rescued July 5 by Stearns County emergency personnel but two kayaks were lost downstream.
On July 5 at approximately 12:43 p.m., the Stearns County Emergency Communications Center received a call reporting eight stranded kayakers on the Sauk River near CR 139 in the City of Rockville. The kayakers had departed from Eagle Park in Rockville and ended up running into several areas of low hanging trees in the water.
The kayakers were able to get to a nearby shoreline and were recovered by the Rockville Fire Department, the Minnesota DNR and the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office Water Patrol Division. Mayo Ambulance also assisted on scene. No injuries were reported but two orange and yellow Pelican kayaks were lost downstream.
Due to extremely high-water levels on the entire Sauk River flowage, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office cautions people recreating on any section of the Sauk River at this time due to very strong currents and countless areas of low hanging trees at or below the water’s surface. Please exercise extreme caution or avoid the river until water levels recede.
If anyone locates the kayaks downstream, please contact the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office so they may be returned to the owners.